Following the Orange Grove Trails

American Real Estate. Photo by Dawn Burleigh

TOURING ORANGE VIA, WELL, ORANGES

By Dawn Burleigh

AA project inspired to bringing communities together while featuring the area has sprung new life into driving down the street as many are searching for the latest painted orange.

Greater Orange Area Chamber of Commerce Treasurer Chris Kovatch with President Ida Schossow made the announcement of the project, last summer, after discussing it for four years.

Since the arrival of the first 1100-pound concrete oranges in November, residents and businesses alike, have watched as more and more arrive throughout the county.

While many oranges were painted the traditional orange at first, more and more are starting to show up in different colors and artistry.

The first one painted, was the one delivered to the Greater Orange Area Chamber of Commerce at the corner of 10th and Green

River Trust Capital Management. Photo by Dawn Burleigh

Ave. in Orange. Kovatch and his son, Stryker, painted it shortly after it was placed at its new home. Now one can use a map at the chamber’s website to tour Orange via the painted fruit and discover the talents of the area. From fishing on the river as featured on the statue at Spanky’s on 16th Street to crawfish and lemons on the painted fruit at The Hut nearby, the flavors of the area are represented well. Businesses around the area are adding their logos to the oversized fruit and many have used it as a monument on display for the establishment such as the way American Real Estate painted with different style homes is proudly displayed on an area raised higher in front of the office. Frey’s Nursery and Landscaping also displayed their ingenuity for curb appeal with an eyecatching display on Interstate 10.

International Paper use theirs to add just the right touch to signs announcing its location.

Travis T. Miller and Suzette Parker Dentist office. Photo by Dawn Burleigh

While many thought the design on this

United Way of Orange County. Photo by Dawn Burleigh

Bridge City Bank front. Photo by Dawn Burleigh

Field of Plenty. Courtesy of Sandra Hoke

particular orange was a wrap, it is actually painted. As new oranges are still arriving and many waiting to be delivered, a tour can change everytime. Oranges spotted during this tour which were unpainted are now painted such as the Field of Plenty orange. The orange at the Field of Plenty

Garden was donated to the garden by Cullen Smith, owner of Security Abstract and Title Company in Orange. Dot Chauvin, Master Gardener and garden volunteer, and her daughter Tracy Chauvin, who says she is in training learning from her Mom, donated their time and talent to paint the orange to represent the Field of Plenty.

Tracey drove from League City to help her Mom who lives in Groves.

“The base is painted to look like dirt with

Alexa Torres admires the masterpieces of art throughout the area as she takes a tour of oranges. Photo by Dawn Burleigh

all kinds of vegetables growing out of the

International Paper. Photo by Dawn Burleigh

Spanky's. Photo by Dawn Burleigh

Old Orange Cafe. Photo by Dawn Burleigh

dirt,” Sandra Hoke, with Field of Plenty, said. “Butterflies, bees, a trowel and even a leaky water hose is worked into the design. We are so proud of it!”

A helpful hint to the tour is look for the differences in the oranges.

“One caught my eye because I noticed there was a tooth were a star would have been on a Texas Flag,” Alexa Torres said.

Torres is referring to the Orange discovered off the main streets at the dentist offices of Travis T. Miller and Suzette Parker located at 3314 Concord Street in Orange.

Along the tour, ladybugs on the leaves, or discovering a design on the ‘back’ of the orange were discovered, such as the orange at Bridge City Bank at 57 Strickland Drive in Orange.

With well over 100 Oranges on display, a tour can take more than a just a couple of hours and can make each tour a little different.

The sculptures are available to purchase to be decorated and displayed outside one’s business or home.

Once the sculptures are on display, a list of locations will be available on the chamber’s website to share with visitors to the area.

The chamber is working with Brad Child’s, owner of Child’s Hardware, to coordinate the delivery of the oranges. Child’s Hardware is also the official paint supplier for the oranges. The cost of an orange is $250 for chamber members and $500 for nonmembers.

Nonmembers will also receive an one year membership with the chamber allowing the business to discover firsthand the benefits of chamber membership. 

See map at https://preview.tinyurl.com/ yd2pmu4w

Map of Tour of Oranges